Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk 1561-1626

Before 22nd August 1553 Henry Dudley [aged 22] and [his mother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk [aged 13] were married. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland [aged 49] and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland [aged 44]. They were third cousin once removed.

In 1556 [his father] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 19] and Mary Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk [aged 16] were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey. She the daughter of Henry Fitzalan 12th or 19th Earl of Arundel [aged 43] and Katherine Grey. They were second cousin once removed.

In 1558 [his father] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 21] and [his mother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk [aged 18] were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey. They were fourth cousins.

On 24th August 1561 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk was born to Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 25] and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk [aged 21].

On 9th January 1564 [his mother] Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk [aged 24] died at Norwich, Norfolk [Map] following the birth of her fourth child. She was initially buried at Church of St John the Baptist, Norwich [Map]. Her remains were moved to the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham [Map].

On 11th January 1564 Richard Southwell [aged 61] died at Windham Manor, Norfolk. He was buried in the north side of the chancel of St Nicholas' Church, Woodrising [Map]. His will of 24 Jul 1561, to which he had added a codicil on the day of his death, was proved on 22 June by Norfolk, Thomas Cornwallis and Thomas aka Francis Gawdy [aged 36]. He bequeathed over 10,000 sheep to members of his family and left his personal armour to his 'cousin and friend' Henry Bedingfield [aged 55] and other armour to the young [his father] 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 27], whom he named an executor

In 1567 [his father] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 30] and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk [aged 31] were married. She by marriage Duchess Norfolk, Countess Surrey.

On 17th May 1569 George Dacre 5th Baron Dacre Gilsland 9th Baron Greystoke [aged 8] died. Baron Greystoke abeyant. There was a dispute as to whether his uncle Leonard Dacre should inherit Baron Dacre Gilsland which would be the case if it was created by letters patent, or whether the Barony was in abeyance between the 5th Baron's three sisters which would be the case of the barony had been created through a writ of summons. Such decisions would normally be referred to the [his father] Duke of Norfolk [aged 33] in his capacity as Earl Marshal but he, Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk, had married [his step-mother] Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk, the mother of the three daughters although she had died in the meantime; he was not impartial - the three daughters were now his step-daughters. The matter was referred to Commissioners who decided the Barony had been created by writ between and was, therefore, abeyant between the three daughters who were now the step-daughters of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk. He, Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk subsequently married his eldest son [his half-brother] Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel [aged 11] to his eldest step-daughter [his future sister-in-law] Anne Dacre Countess Arundel [aged 12]. After Thomas Howard's execution in 1572 the two remaining daughters, [his future wife] Mary Dacre [aged 5] and Elizabeth Dacre [aged 4] were married to his two remaining sons Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 7] and William Howard [aged 5] respectively ensuring all of the Dacre and Greystoke wealth and estates in Cumberland, Yorkshire and Northumberland would become the property of the Howard family.

In 1571 [his half-brother] Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel [aged 13] and [his sister-in-law] Anne Dacre Countess Arundel [aged 13] were married. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and [his step-mother] Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of [his father] Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 34] and Mary Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.

Before 1572 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 10] and Mary Dacre [aged 8] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. She died six years later three months short of her fifteenth birthday. She being his step-sister. An unusual example of a Marriage of Three Sets of Siblings where, in this case, three brothers, married three sisters, who were also step-siblings, as a means of keeping the sisters inheritance. She the daughter of Thomas Dacre 4th Baron Dacre Gilsland 8th Baron Greystoke and Elizabeth Leybourne Duchess Norfolk. He the son of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk [aged 35] and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were half third cousin once removed.

On 7th April 1578 [his wife] Mary Dacre [aged 14] died in Naworth Castle [Map].

Before 1580 Richard Rich and [his future wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 15] were married.

On 24th February 1580 Henry Fitzalan 12th or 19th Earl of Arundel [aged 67] died. His grandson [his half-brother] Philip [aged 22] succeeded 13th or 20th Earl Arundel, 10th Baron Maltravers, 10th Baron Arundel. [his sister-in-law] Anne Dacre Countess Arundel [aged 22] by marriage Countess Arundel.

Before 1582 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 20] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 17] were married. She by marriage Baroness Audley Walden in Essex. He the son of Thomas Howard 4th Duke of Norfolk and Margaret Audley Duchess Norfolk. They were third cousins.

On 13th August 1582 [his son] Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 20] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 18] at Saffron Walden, Essex [Map]. He married 1612 Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk, daughter of George Home 1st Earl Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar, and had issue.

Around 1583 [his daughter] Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 21] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 19]. She married 1. 23rd December 1605 her third cousin once removed William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury and had issue 2. 30th June 1632 her fifth cousin once removed Edward Vaux 4th Baron Vaux Harrowden.

Around 1584 Thomas Clinton 3rd Earl Lincoln [aged 13] and [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln [aged 6] were married. He the son of Henry Clinton 2nd Earl Lincoln [aged 42] and Catherine Hastings Countess Lincoln [aged 41]. They were half sixth cousins.

In 1584 [his son] Robert Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 22] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 20]. He married 1648 his sixth cousin Catherine Neville, daughter of Henry Neville 2nd Baron Abergavenny and Catherine Vaux Baroness Bergavenny.

On 8th October 1587 [his son] Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 26] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 23] at Saffron Walden, Essex [Map]. He married 1614 his fourth cousin Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire, daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter, and had issue.

On 26th July 1588 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 26] was knighted by Admiral Lord Howard of Effingham on the Ark Royal.

Around 1590 [his daughter] Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 28] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 26]. She married 1st December 1608 her fifth cousin William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury, son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury and Elizabeth Brooke, and had issue.

On 31st May 1590 [his daughter] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 28] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 26]. She married 1. 1603 her fourth cousin Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex, son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex 2. 26th December 1613 Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset and had issue.

In 1591 [his son] Charles Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 29] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 27]. He married 1613 Mary Fitz.

In 1592 [his son] Henry Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 30] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 28] in Henley In Arden, Warwickshire. He married before 1616 Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne and had issue.

On 19th October 1595 [his half-brother] Philip Howard 13th or 20th Earl of Arundel [aged 38] died of dysentery at Tower of London [Map]. He was buried at St Peter ad Vincula Church, Tower of London [Map], reburied at Arundel Cathedral, Sussex [Map] and then reburied in the Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel Castle [Map]. Earl Arundel, Baron Maltravers, Baron Arundel forfeit.

He had been imprisoned for ten years and had never seen his son and heir [his nephew] Thomas Howard 14th or 21st Earl of Arundel 4th Earl of Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk [aged 10] who had been born three months after he was imprisoned.

In 1597 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 35] was created 1st Baron Howard de Walden by writ of summons. [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 33] by marriage Baroness Howard de Walden. His [his mother] mother's [his grandfather] father was the first and last Baron Audley Walden in Essex.

In 1597 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 35] was appointed 384th Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland [aged 63].

In 1598 Unknown Painter. Portrait of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 36].

Around 1602 [his son] Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 40] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 38]. He married 1624 Mary Boteler Baroness Howard, daughter of John Boteler 1st Baron Boteler and Elizabeth Villiers Baroness Boteler Brantfield, and had issue.

In 1603 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] was created 1st Earl Suffolk. [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39] by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1603 [his son-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 11] and Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 12] were married. They were separated after the wedding given their young age. Essex went on a European tour from 1607 to 1609. When he returned she avoided him having fallen for Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 16] whilst her husband was away. He was ill with smallpox. She sought an annulment with her father Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and uncle Henry Howard 1st Earl of Northampton [aged 62] acting for her. She maintained the marriage had not been consummated and was examined by ten matrons and two midwives who found her hymen intact. It was widely rumoured at the time that Sir Thomas Monson's [aged 38] daughter was a substitute, which is possible because she had requested to be veiled during the examination "for modesty's sake". He maintained he was capable with other women, but was unable to consummate his marriage blaming her. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 41] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 39]. He the son of Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex [aged 36]. They were fourth cousins.

On 23rd December 1605 [his son-in-law] William Knollys 1st Earl Banbury [aged 61] and Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury [aged 22] were married. She by marriage Baroness Knollys. The difference in their ages was 39 years. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 44] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 41]. They were third cousin once removed.

On 1st December 1608 [his son-in-law] William Cecil 2nd Earl Salisbury [aged 17] and Catherine Howard Countess Salisbury [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 47] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 44]. He the son of Robert Cecil 1st Earl Salisbury [aged 45] and Elizabeth Brooke. They were fifth cousins.

In 1611 John Eyre [aged 31] and Dorothy Bulstrode [aged 19] attempted to murder Edward Herbert 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury [aged 28] who he suspected of having an affair with his wife (Dorothy Bulstrode). Eyre and four accomplices caught up with Herbert and his two footmen at Scotland Yard as he was leaving Whitehall Palace [Map], and wounded his horse several times. Eyre broke Herbert's sword. Twenty more men appeared, Herbert thought them Eyre's supporters and attendants of the Earl of Suffolk [aged 49]. Two other men helped Herbert, and after a prolonged struggle he wounded Eyre, who was carried to the Thames vomiting. A few days later Eyre sent a message that he would kill Herbert with "a musket out of a window". Meanwhile, because Eyre claimed Dorothy had confessd to being unfaithful, she sent a letter to her aunt Lady Croke (Note. probably Prudence Croke [aged 44] possibly Elizabeth Croke denying this, and Herbert was able to give this letter to the Privy Council. The Duke of Lennox [aged 36] said that John Eyre was "the most miserable man living" because of the shame of Dorothy's letter, and because his father had disinherited him on hearing of the assault.

In 1612 Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk [aged 29] and Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 13] were married. She the daughter of George Home 1st Earl Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon Countess Dunbar [aged 37]. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 50] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 48].

Around 1613 Charles Howard [aged 22] and Mary Fitz [aged 16] were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 51] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 49].

On 25th September 1613 [his son-in-law] Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex [aged 22] and [his daughter] Frances Howard Countess Essex and Somerset [aged 23] marriage annulled by King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland [aged 47]. She married Robert Carr 1st Earl Somerset [aged 26] three months later.

In 1614 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Berkshire [aged 26] and Elizabeth Cecil Countess Berkshire [aged 18] were married. She the daughter of William Cecil 2nd Earl Exeter [aged 48] and Elizabeth Drury Countess Exeter [aged 35]. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 52] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 50]. They were fourth cousins.

Before 1616 Henry Howard [aged 23] and Elizabeth Bassett Countess Newcastle upon Tyne [aged 23] were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 54] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 51].

Around 1616 [his son] Henry Howard [aged 24] died 'at his country house' [Blore Hall, Staffordshire?] at breakfast 'suddenly at the table without speaking one word'. He was buried at St Bartholomew's Church, Blore [Map].

On 29th September 1616 Henry Clinton 2nd Earl Lincoln [aged 75] died at Sempringham. His son Thomas [aged 45] succeeded 3rd Earl Lincoln, 11th Baron Clinton. [his sister-in-law] Elizabeth Knyvet Countess Lincoln [aged 38] by marriage Countess Lincoln.

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. [20th August 1618]. While the court was at Bewley, a Scottishman stabbed and killed a servant of Humfrey's, that discovered the pot aux roses touching the courses of the Lord [aged 56] and [his wife] Lady Suffolk [aged 54]. The fellow is to suffer for it, if he be not hanged already at the court gate. Sir John Bingley is, like enough, for aught I hear, to pass well through his business, and so may the Lord of Suffolk², seeing there pass many letters 'twixt the king and him; which some think to be about the parting with Audley End [Map], for the which he is to have £ 2000 land a-year; and as much more as the grounds or lands about it came to.

Note 1. "discover the pot aux roses" i.e. to discover a secret.

Note 2. Accused of corruption in his post of lord treasurer, and many other misdemeanors.

Letters of John Chamberlain Volume 2.315. [30th January 1619] The earle of Suffolke [aged 57] and his [his wife] Lady [aged 55] entertaine counsaile, and mean to stand to theire innocence. I have not seene the bill put in against them, but I heare that after a large commemoration and as yt were exprobation of the Kings favors and benefits, they are taxed with extortion, concussion, and oppression, besides briberie and false dealing as well in the matter of correns and alume, as specially in false inventaries of jewells, in displacing and altering of stones, and making them away at an undervalue to theyre owne benefit: how these matters can be aunswered I know not, but howsoever yt fall out I doubt yt will prove impar congressus [an uneven match].

Diary of Anne Clifford. 20th November 1619. The 20th my Lord and Lady Suffolk¹ were sent to the Tower.

Note 1. Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 58] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 55].

Diary of Anne Clifford. 28th November 1619. The 28th though I kept my chamber altogether yet methinks the time is not so tedious to me as when I used to be abroad.

About this time I received letters from Mr Davis by which I perceived how ill things were likely to go in Westmoreland especially with Mr Hilton and Michael Brunstall.¹

Note 1. About this time of my Lord's [aged 30] being at London he kept a great table having a great company of Lords and gentlemen that used to dine with him.

All this winter my Lady Margaret's speech was very ill so as strangers cannot understand her, besides she was so apt to take cold and so out of temper that it grieved me to think of it. I verily believe all these inconveniences proceed from some distemper in her head.

The 29th of November was the last time my Lord came to my Lady Penniston's [aged 24] at her Mother's lodgings in the Strand. The 30th my Lord and Lady Suffolk¹ came out of the Tower.

Note 1. Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 58] and [his wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 55]

Around 1624 Edward Howard 1st Baron Howard [aged 22] and Mary Boteler Baroness Howard were married. He the son of Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 62] and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 60].

On 28th May 1626 Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 64] died at Charing Cross [Map]. He was buried at Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map]. His son Theophilus [aged 43] succeeded 2nd Earl Suffolk. Elizabeth Home Countess Suffolk [aged 27] by marriage Countess Suffolk.

In 1638 [his former wife] Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk [aged 74] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 31st August 1654. From Cambridge, we went to Audley-End [Map], and spent some time in seeing that goodly place built by Howard, Earl of Suffolk, once Lord Treasurer. It is a mixed fabric, between antique and modern, but observable for its being completely finished, and without comparison is one of the stateliest palaces in the kingdom. It consists of two courts, the first very large, winged with cloisters. The front had a double entrance; the hall is fair, but somewhat too small for so august a pile. The kitchen is very large, as are the cellars, arched with stone, very neat and well disposed; these offices are joined by a wing out of the way very handsomely. The gallery is the most cheerful and I think one of the best in England; a fair dining-room, and the rest of the lodgings answerable, with a pretty chapel. The gardens are not in order, though well inclosed. It has also a bowling-alley, a noble well-walled, wooded and watered park, full of fine collines and ponds: the river glides before the palace, to which is an avenue of lime trees, but all this is much diminished by its being placed in an obscure bottom. For the rest, is a perfectly uniform structure, and shows without like a diadem, by the decorations of the cupolas and other ornaments on the pavilions; instead of rails and balusters, there is a border of capital letters, as was lately also on Suffolk House, Suffolk Street, near Charing-Cross, built by the same Lord Treasurer.

[his daughter] Emily Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts. After he [Robert Devereux 2nd Earl Essex] had been in the Tower one night, he sent to the Lord Thomas Howard, being constable of the Tower, by Mr. Warburton, to entreat him to move her Majesty to send unto him the Lord Keeper (Egerton), Lord Treasurer (Buckhurst), Lord Admiral (Nottingham), and me the secretary by name, that he might now discharge his conscience, and confess his great obstinacy in denying those things at his arraignment wherewith he had been charsed, as also to reconcile himself to his enemies, and specially to me, whom he liad wronged as a councillor, when he pretended at the bar that the cause of his taking arms was the rather to save the kingdom of England from the Spaniard, to whom it was bought and sold, particularly urging it upon me, who had been a dealer in the peace; adding also that he had heard that I delivered to a councillor that the Inftint had the best title: to the which when I replied, and pressed that the party that told it him miglit be brought forth, Mr. Controller (Sir Edward Wotton?) was named by the poor Earl of Southampton, who, being sent for into the seat of judgment, very like a gentleman and a Christian cleared me that I did never speak of that in other sort than as reporting what a strange book was come forth of one Doleman dedicated to the Earl of Essex, which did maintain that title to be the best.

[his daughter] Margaret Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

[his daughter] Gertrude Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

[his son] John Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

[his son] William Howard was born to Thomas Howard 1st Earl Suffolk and Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk.

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. There is, I hear, a new commission granted; first, to inquire what jewels of the crown have been embezzled; whereby the Earl of Suffolk is like to be called to a further account. There is heating at the Lord Knollys's also; but he resolves stoutly to stand upon his own just position, and hath directly told the marquis as much; with putting him in mind, further, that these precedents may one day prove leading cases to himself.